Five hundred GP clinics to start administering vaccines by June 15

PETALING JAYA: The government aims to have 500 general practitioner (GP) clinics administering vaccines by June 15, says Khairy Jamaluddin.

The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister said a total of 1000 clinics would be designated as vaccination centres by June 30.

"I estimate that GPs and private hospital vaccination centres can contribute and administer 40,000 doses a day.

"This is our aim for the private PPVs subject to the availability of vaccine supplies," he said during a press conference on Sunday (May 30).

He said this in response to claims that private hospitals and clinics were not involved in the country's vaccination programme.

Khairy noted that before this, GPs were not involved in the vaccination programme as supplies were insufficient.

However, he said with increasing incoming vaccine supplies, it would be easier to rope in clinics and private hospitals to administer the vaccines for free through the national immunisation programme.

"The government will pay the clinics and private hospitals. They only need to administer the vaccines," he said.

Khairy added that there are currently 2,500 GP clinics that have registered to aid the national immunisation programme.

Of the 2,500 GPs, he said 1,800 had already attended an onboarding programme to administer the vaccines.

"Even though vaccinations are routine for GPs, Covid-19 vaccinations are a bit different due to their (cold) storage system (requirements).

"So, even though we want to involve more GPs, but they must first attend the training programme with ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd," he said.

Khairy added that registration for GPs to become a PPV is now easier and they no longer require Health Ministry pre-approval.

He said an observation visit would only be made after the PPV is up and running.